Chair that adapts to multiple sitting positions

ABSTRACT

An adaptable chair with multiple adjustable components that may be configured by the user for various seating positions, particularly to change between conventional and cross-legged seating position. The adaptable chair&#39;s seating surface is comprised of a set of separate surface components for each of the user&#39;s right and left thighs. In a conventional seating configuration, the seating surface components are in a closed or joined position and the footrest in an unobtrusive position. To configure the chair for cross-legged seating, the seat components for each thigh may be moved apart to allow a user cross-legged seating position and rest the feet and lower legs upon the footrest. The disclosure describes various means of adjustment to the thigh supports and footrest, and mechanisms for actuating the various configurations to maximize comfort and ease of use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED R&D

Not applicable.

PARTIES OF JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chair whose shape can be adapted to support a user in a plurality of seating positions, principally the conventional seating position and the cross-legged seating position. The invention describes a chair that can convert between these seating positions by means of a divided seat support that may be separated or rejoined as desired with various adjustments and interactions with a footrest and armrests that support cross-legged seating positions, thereby allowing the user to change between positions at will.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional chairs have been found to contribute to poor posture, slouching, back pain and other discomfort, especially when used for long periods consistently such as in an office job, while reading, watching entertainment and other similar sedentary activities.

The cross-legged seating position is considered advantageous to the health by improving posture, flexibility in the legs, back and buttocks.

However, for many people the cross-legged seating position is uncomfortable, difficult and in some cases impossible, especially in conventional chairs. The geometry and seating area of a conventional chair is not suited to cross-legged seating as there is usually not adequate space on the seat for the feet; the armrests often interfere with the position of the legs when crossed; many people are unable, or find it extremely uncomfortable, to sit cross-legged with their feet in the same plane as their buttocks and legs. Lastly, remaining in any single seated position for extended duration of time eventually becomes uncomfortable and unhealthy.

In light of this, it is desirable to have a chair that can adapt between conventional and cross-legged seating positions that users can easily adjust to maximize comfort in either position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a chair that can be adapted at will by the user to allow the user to sit comfortably in either conventional or cross-legged positions, in the same chair, with a variety of user adjustments to maximize comfort. The invention includes a user configurable seating surface that divides the chair seat surface into, for example, one surface for each leg. In a conventional seating configuration, the seating surface is in a closed or joined position, held with a fastening mechanism, and any seat extensions retracted so a user's legs may hang over the end as with any ordinary chair. To configure the chair for, for example, cross-legged seating, the seating surface separates into two seat components, each seat component pivoting about points generally below the hip joint of the user and spreading apart to allow a user cross-legged seating position. Each seat component may be extended to allow distributing the user's weight from buttocks all the way to the end of the knee. Once the seat components are separated, a footrest platform can optionally be moved into the void created by the separated seating components. The footrest may be moved out of the way when in conventional seating position. The forward tilt and and longitudinal angle of the split seating components may also be adjusted. The seating surface components may have an optional adjustment allowing each to slide backward for cross-legged position. Optionally the latches and actuators used to make the chair adjustments in seating position, as well as the motion of the seat components during reconfiguration from one seating configuration to another may be linked mechanically or electro-mechanically such that various adjustments can operate in unison, for example: The lever or latch that releases the split seat components from a standard seating position to a cross-legged position may also cause the foot rest to be released from its resting position, release the knee rest extensions, or cause the seat angle to tilt forward, and/or move the armrests or backrest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings summarized below. These drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate example embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an adaptable an adaptable chair in a first configuration.

FIG. 2 illustrates an adaptable chair in a second configuration.

FIG. 3 an example of a person sitting on the chair in cross-legged position

FIG. 4 illustrates the adaptable chair in a third configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates the adaptable chair in a fourth configuration.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded, detailed view of more features of the adaptable chair from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adaptable chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration, for example a conventional seating position. The numbering scheme for the Figures uses the notation ‘R’ and ‘L’ following the number of a component to indicate the Right and Left sub-components, respectively, of those components which have two symmetric sub-components such as the seat 101L and 101R. The adaptable chair includes a conventional cushioned backrest 105, and armrests 104L and 104R, and a seat assembly 101L/101R, 102L/102R. Each of these components and sub-components that interface with the user including 101, 102, 104, 105 may be constructed of a single rigid material such as wood, metal, plastic, or a combination such as a metal frame with plastic mesh. These components may also optionally include additional materials on their surface to enhance comfort, such as foam, bunting, or similar cushioning material covered by fabric, leather, vinyl, or similar materials typically used in construction of chairs.

The example embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 show the adaptable chair in an optional configuration in the form of an office chair. In this configuration, the seating. assembly 101, 102, 104, 105 may optionally be supported by a cylindrical frame 107. The cylindrical frame 107 may allow the chair to be raised or lowered by means of a telescoping piston (not shown) actuate by a lever (not shown), or a screw, or other means known to those skilled in the art. A bushing or bearing (not shown) may optionally included either between the seat assembly and the frame 107, or between the frame 107 and the base 108, so the that user can easily pivot or rotate in the chair. The frame assembly 107 may optionally be supported by a multi-spoke base 108, which may optionally ride on a set of casters 1.09 allowing the chair to roll for easy movement. Other alternative embodiments may include fixed (non-wheeled) frame and base assemblies of traditional chairs with such as a solid base, or three-legged, four-legged or multi-legged chair made of metal, wood, plastic or similar materials. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as configured for cross-legged seating position. The seat surface is divided into two separate sections 101R and 101L that can rotate outward in the direction of the arrows 202R and 202L respectively, pivoting about axes 201R and 201L respectively, located approximately below the user's hip joints would be situation while seated. The seating sections 101R and 101L may optionally include knee supports 102R and 102L that can extend outward to support the thigh and knee while in cross-legged seating position.

An optional footrest assembly 103 may be included upon which the feet and lower legs can rest while in cross-legged seating position. The footrest assembly 103 may optionally be shaped to fit the void created by the separated seating surfaces 101 so it can be raised to fit snugly between them for users wishing to have their feet in the same plane as the seat while sitting cross-legged.

The footrest 103 may include adjustments to be raised or lowered to accommodate comfort of the user. These adjustments may be achieved by various means known to those skilled in the art such as of a cylindrical mounting 106 that slides up and down the chair base 107 and held in various positions by a spring-loaded clamp (not shown), detent ball (not shown), jack screw, rack and pinion (not shown) or similar means.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a person sitting on the chair in cross-legged seating configuration.

Another example embodiment of the invention may include adjustments to the seat to support the legs at various angles to maximize user comfort. As show in FIG. 4 each portion of the divided seat supports 101 may be adjusted independently about at least two axes 112 to support the legs in a variety of positions. Such adjustments may be implemented by using a ball and socket joint (not shown) at the pivot point 111 where each seat component 101 mourns to the base 113, or other means known to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of present invention where a portion of the seat support remains fixed 110, and the leg supports 101 with optional knee extensions 102 rotate about this fixed base. In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 the footrest assembly may optionally be comprised of two sub-components 103R and 103L allowing them to be adjusted by the user to suit the user's legs in various positions to maximize comfort. In another embodiment of the invention, the footrest optionally includes a set of two or more footrest surface components of various shapes and materials including foam, gel, rubber, bunting, or other appropriate materials, and with a means of removal and re-attachment such as snaps, straps, hook and loop or other appropriate means such that the footrest surface may be inserted or swapped by users to accommodate the comfort of users across a variety of leg angles, leg length, and foot sizes.

In another example embodiment of the invention, the footrest 103 may be optionally moved or rotated out of the way when in conventional seating position as show in FIG. 1.

Optionally the seat components may be linked mechanically or electro-mechanically such that during conversion from one seating configuration to another the various adjustments can operate in unison. For example FIG. 6 illustrates the underside of the seat assembly from FIG. 2. The seat components 101 R and 101L each have a gear 301 R and 301L that are fixed to and recessed into the base 302 R and 302L of each seat component respectively, and that are centers aligned with the pivot axes 201R and 201L of the seat components 101L and 101R. These seat component assemblies 101L and 101R attach to the seat sub-frame 310 by means of bolts 306R and 306L that are mounted to bushings 311R and 311L that allow the seat component assemblies to rotate independently of the seat sub-frame 310. The teeth of the gears 301R and 301L are interlocked, thus the components move in unison when being opened (separated) or closed (rejoined).

FIG. 6 also illustrates an example embodiment of the knee support in both closed and open position. The left knee rest 102L is shown in closed position, could be attached to the left seat component 101L by means of support frames 303L, which are shown retracted underneath the left seat base 302L. In this closed position the surface material 305L of the knee rest, which could be made of fabric, leather, vinyl, plastic, mesh or similar material, is folded in to the recess between the seat 101L and the knee rest component 102L. The right knee rest 102R illustrates this embodiment in the open or extended position. The mounting brackets 304R which attach the right knee rest support frames 303R to the base of the right seat component 302R allow the mounting brackets 304R to slide so the knee rest 102R can be moved to the extended position. The right knee rest surface material 305R is stretched taut in this position providing a surface for the user's leg and knee to rest upon.

Other example embodiments of the invention could further coordinate the conversion between various seating configurations by means of levers or latches (not shown) that releases the split seat components from Standard seating position to convert to cross-legged position may also cause the foot rest to be released from its resting position, release the knee rest extensions, or cause the seat angle to tilt forward, and/or move the armrests or backrest. 

1. A chair with multiple adjustable components that may be configured for various seating positions comprising: a seating surface which is divided into multiple seating surface components including a buttocks seating surface component of limited depth to support only the buttocks, a left thigh seating surface component and right thigh seating surface component which extend forward from the front edge of the buttocks seating surface component, and an integrated footrest, wherein said left and right thigh seating surface components may be moved or pivoted outward apart from each other creating a void to accommodate placement of feet and legs in alternative sitting postures, and wherein said footrest may be positioned in the void created by moving said right and left leg seating surface components.
 2. The chair in claim 1 wherein said left and right seating surface components may be adjusted vertically while in the separated position, in order to support the knees when sitting in cross-legged position.
 3. The chair in claim 1 wherein the footrest may be adjusted vertically.
 4. An alternative configuration to the chair in claim 1 whereby the seating surface is comprised of exactly two components, the right thigh seating surface components and left thigh seating surface component, and omitting a separate seating surface component for the buttocks. 